Heat exchanger



Spt. 14 1926.

J. PRICE HEAT EXCHANGER Filed A rii 12', 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVIENTORSept. 14,1926. 1,60 13 J. PRICE HEAT EXCHANGER I Filed April 12, 1924 4Sheets-Sheet 2 a INYENTOR M ATTORNEY Sept. 14,1926. 0 1,600,013

JJJJJ cE PM ..;i 000% IQ-WK If Sept. 14 1926. 1,600,013

J. PRICE HEAT EXCHANGER Filed April 12, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IJN VENTORBY Km; 6, %%M

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH PRICE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE GRISCOM-RUSSELLCOMPANY,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

HEAT EXGHANGER.

Application filed April12, 1924. Serial No. 705,982.

The present invention relates to heat exchange apparatus and has to doparticularly with the transfer of heat between a gas and a liquid.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 645,735 filed June 16, 1923,there is described a heat exchanger particularly adapted to accomplishtransfer of heat between two fluid mediums one of which is a gas. Forthe purpose of securing effective heat transfer, the apparatus isprovided with extended heat transferring members along which the gas inits passage thru the apparatus is filmed for the purpose of effecting anintimatecontact between the entire volume of gas being treated and theheat transferring surfaces 'of the apparatus. This extended heattransferring surface is provided in the form of fins of heat conductingmetal fitted over the heat transferring tubes and assembled incloselyadj acent relation on the tubes. The heating element of theapparatus comprises a plurality of tube elements comprising a pair oftubes interconnected at one end and opening at their other ends intosuitable distributing chambers which serve to properly direct the flowof fluid thru the tubes.

The present invention constitutes an improvement and further developmentover the apparatus disclosed in my above mentioned co-pendingapplication, and contemplates a number of structural improvements whichadd to the commercial utility of the apparatus. Among these features isan improved means of supporting the tube ele:

ments in the apparatus. The, invention also A involves certainimprovements in the structure employed to direct the flow of fluid thruthe tubes of the heating element whereby by means of a water headcapable of ready manufacture a. marked flexibility of design is securedwith the result that the apparatus may be readily adapted to anyconditions and requirements which may be encountered in practice.

A feature of the present invention which is of considerable importancein the manufacture and operation of the apparatus is the employment oftube elements which consist of more than two tubes and which at the sametime are provided with fins closely grouped in adjacent relation on thetubes, ea hfin spanning all of the tu s of the element. This feature isof particular importance in increasing the amount of active heattransferring surface which can be rovided in an apparatus of given size.1 ith this arrangement it is possible to provide as much as 80 squarefeet of heating surface per cubic foot, of volume of apparatus, whichamount of heatingsurface is far in excess of that, offered by otherapparatus which is available on the market at the present time foraccomplishing heat transfer in industrial applications wherein one ofthe heat transferring fluids is a gas. It is the intent in theproduction of a heat exchanger of this type to accomplish an effectiveheat transfer between the working fluid and the gas under treatment, andthis effort is aided by the structure of. the present invention in whicheach of the single fins spans the considerable number of tubesconstituting each individual heating element of the apparatus. Thisconstruction permits the heat transferring fins to extend insubstantially continuous fashion throughout the apparatus, the spacelost, between fins of adjacent elements being reatly reduced due to thefact that each spans all of the tubes of the element on which it ismounted.

A further important constructional feature in securing an effective heattransfer is the provision of tube elements each comprising a pluralityof tubes all spanned by each of the fins mounted thereon and arranged sothat there are, a different number of tubes in the two passes .of theheating element. This effect may be attained by admitting working fluidto more than half of the tubes of the element whereupon the tubesavailable for conveying the fluid on its return passage'thru theapparatus will be less than half of the total number of tubes in theelement. The velocity of fluid flow thru the return tubes of theelementwill therefore be the greater, which feature is of advan tage dueto the fact that the temperature Either an odd or even number of tubesmay be used in each pass of the heating element ments of the heatingunit and are also maintained in proper alignment with respect to theirend supports. This result is accomplished by special members of simpleand inexpensive construction so arranged as to both support and alignthe tube elements,'

and also facilitate removal of the individual elements from the heatingunit without damage to the fins or tubes of that element or of adjacentelements. L

The'invention also contemplates the dis tribution of Working fiuid tothe heating tubes in independent sections so that two or moreindependent sources of fluid supply may be utilized in the sameapparatus.

I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention in theaccompanying drawings'in which Figure 1 is a sectional View takenlongitudinally of a fin tube heat exchanger embodying my invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view taken longitudinally of the apparatus and atright angles to the view shown in Figure 1; Figures 3 to 6 are detailviews illustrating portions of the individual elements of the heatingunit; Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 7-7 ofFigure 1 and showing the construction of the water head; Figure 8 1s atransverse sectional view taken thru the apparatus on line 88 of Figure1; Flgure 9 is a transverse sectional View taken thru the apparatus nearthe end of the tube bundle as indicated at 9-9 of Figure 1; Figure 10 isa detail view showing a modified form of'support for the heatingelements; Figures 11 to 14 are detail views showing modified forms ofheating elements and a manner of supporting the elements.

Referring to the drawings, particularly F lgures 1 and 2, 1 indicatesthe supporting structure constituting the frame Work of the apparatusand which houses the heat exchanging element. The tubes 2 of the elementextend longitudinally of the apparatus and are suitabl secured at oneend in a tube sheet 3. he tubes are grouped into a plurality ofindividual elements, each element consisting of a pair of tubesinterconnected at one end of the'element by means of a cast header orchamber 4. A water head is provided at the other end of the apparatushaving suitable partitions 5 so arranged as to pass the working fluidin.one direction along the len th of the apparatus thru one tube of eache ement and return it in the o posite direction thru the other tube ofthe e ement.

The interconnected ends of the tube elements are each provided with aprojection or prong 6 cast as a part of the header 4.. These prongs 6pass thru suitable holes provided in supporting strips 7 which arecarried by the frame of the apparatus, extending transversely of thetube bundle. Each prong 6 has a sliding fit in the supporting strip 7,thus permitting longitudinal expansion of the tube elements. As hereshown, a separate supporting strip 7 is provided for each transverse rowof the heating elements so that, if it is desired to remove an elementof the heating unit, it will merely be necessary to remove one of thesupporting strips 7, whereupon the tube element may 'be withdrawnwithout disturbing the other elements of the unit. The varioussupporting strips 7 are arranged in predetermined position on theapparatus frame and the holes in the strips which receive the prongs 6of the tube elements are located to properly position the respectivetube elements in the apparatus. By supporting the tube elements at oneend in the tube sheet 3 and supporting them at the other end by means ofthe supporting'strips 7, a compact and rugged tube bundle is providedwhich will give satisfactory service under all conditions to which thisclass of apparatus is subjected in practice.

For .the purpose of increasing the heat transferring area of the heatingunit, each of the individual tube elements is provided with a largenumber of heat conducting fins 8 as indicated in Figure l, threaded overthe tubes constituting the element and arrangedin closely adjacentrelation throughout substantially the entire length of the element.These fins 8 lie in parallel relation to the flow of gas thru theapparatus and serve to repeatedly film the entire volume of gas intointimate contact with the heat transferring surfaces to thereby accomplish an effective transfer of heat between the gas and the workingfluid traversing the tubes. For the purpose of facilitating the heattransfer, the tubes 2 are arranged in staggered relation with respect tothe flow of as thru the apparatus. This is accomplis ed by slanting thetube elements, as shown in Figure 8, so that the tubes of alternate rowslie opposite the spaces between the ,tubes of the remaining rows. In theapparatus here shown the elements. are slanted at about 30 to thevertical to accomplish this staggered arran ement.

The water head provided in the apparatus of this invention permitsadmission of the workin fluid to a number of heat transferring tubes inparallel and also provides for connecting certain of the elements of theheatin unit in series. This arrangement is carried sion of the apparatusis fixed by the number out in such manner that no dimen; i

of tubes which must be connected in parallel to accom lish the requisiteheat. transfer,

7 rows of elements in This resultsinaa flexi le design which perand thisis accomplished by arranging for the connection of all of the elementsof eachtransverse row in parallel and also for connecting as manydifferent transverse 'arallel as is desired.

7 mits adaptation of the heat exchanger to any desired use without inanyway limiting the heat transferring capability of the apparatus. Thewater head of the present invention providesa structure whichaccomplishes these results and which is particularly advantageous fromthe standpoint of manufacture. The partitions of the water head whichdetermine the distribution of fluid to the heating tubes are castascontinuous partitions traversing the length of the water head severaltlmes after the fashidn shown in Fi re 7. In this figure the workinfluid 1s admitted at the inlet 9 and the fluidthus admitted finds itsway into chambers 10 formed by the contlnuous partition 5. The tubesopening into these chambers 10 receive the working fluid admitted at theinlet 9 and convey it in one 4 direction thru the length oftheapparatus,

whereupon it is redirected by means of the interconnected headers 41provided on the.

individual elements and passed in the reversedirection back thru theapparatus and discharged into the chambers 11 formed upon the other sideofthelpartition 5. It W111 be noted that all of the chambers 10 and allof the chambers 11 are in communication with each other so that thetortuous parti tign 5 actually, divides the space in the water head intoonl two separate chambers 10 and 11. Wit this arrangement all "of theelements of each transverse row are connected in'parallel and,additionally, three diiferent transverse rows of elements are connectedin parallel. In the arrangement shown, the water head is provided withtwo partitions 5 thus providing a fourmany different rows as desired.This arrangement permits an apparatus of any desired width irres ctiveof the heat transfer requirements which must be met. The par-.

titions 5 of the water head abut at their inner edgesagainst the tubesheet 3; The chambers 10 andv11 formed by these partitions are openchambers andare closed by a separate plate 13' bolted against the outerends of the water head partitions in the manner shown in Figure 2. i

In addition to supporting the tube ele ments at each end, one or morepoints of support are rovided along the length of the elements; blocks14, best shown in Figures 3 and 5, are provided on the tube elementsintermediate the ends of the element. These supporting blocks. 14consists of a pair of identical block sections provided with holes toreceive the tubes of the heating element. The blocks are secured ontothe element by suitable means such as a connecting rivet 15, indicatedin Figure 5. At points along the length of the tube elementscorresponding to the positioning of the supporting blocks 14, framemembers 16 (Figure 8) extending around the entire periphery of the tubebundle are provided. The faces of these frame members which lie adjacentor this purpose the supporting the tube bundle are notched as indicatedat 17 in Figure 8, for the purpose of receiving the supporting block 14and thus supporting and locating in proper position those tube elementsconstituting the outer row of elements around the periphery of the tubebundle. The supporting blocks 14 ,are dimensioned exteriorly to exactlythose dimensions intended to be occupied by each 'of the individual tubeelements in the apparatus. 'As successive elements are assembled in thebundle, the supporting blocks 14 of each element rest upon thecorresponding supporting blocks on adjacent elements and due to theaccurate dimensioning of these blocks serve not only to support eachelement at one or more points along 'its length but also to locate itproperly 1n the apparatus with respect to the frame of the apparatus andthe other elements of the heating unit. This construction insures thatevery element in the tube bundle wilL be properly positioned andaligned. The supportin blocks 14 also serve the function of protectingthe fins of the. elements from damage durlng assembly or during removaland replacement of any element.

. In Figures 11 to 14 I have shown a structureembodying individual tubeelements consisting of more than two tubes. The tube element of Figures1-1 to 13 comprises eight tubesinterconnected at one end of the elementby a header 4 constituting a chamber in communication with all of thetubes of the element. with a plurality of heat conducting fins 8. Eachfin is passed overall of the tubes of the element, and theflfinsarearranged in closely-adjacent relationthr ughout the en tire len th ofthe tubes. T e header 4-is provid with a single prong 6 fittinginto' asuitable hole formed, in the supporting strip 7 With this construction asingle strlp 7 supports an entire traILSYQISe row of The element isprovided 'the idea of the strip supports.

titions in the water head. In structure of Figures 11 to 13, forinstance, sixof the tubes may constitute the initial pass and theremaining two tubes constitute the return pass. In Figure 14 I haveillustrated a design of tube elements employin an odd number of tubes,namely seven. ith this element the upper four tubes may con-' venientlyserve to convey fluid in one direc tion while the remaing three tubesconvey it on its passage along the length of the apparatus in the otherdirection. Multitube elements of this type are of advantage in that theyafford an arrangement which is especially fitted for adaptation todifi'erent operating conditions and thus by providing an apparatus ofone general class which may be used throughout a wide range of operatingconditions, give to the apparatus a unique flexibility of designwhichgreatly enhances its commercial utility. It Will be understood that thematter of distributing the fluid so that the two passes of'a singleelement consist of different numbers of tubes depends merely upon thearrangement of the distributing partitions in the water head and anydesired fluid distribution may be effected by so locating the partitionsof the water head that a desired number of the tubes of the elements arein communication with the inlet chambers, While the remaining tubes ofthe elements open into the outlet. chambers.

It may be of advantage in certain instances to arrange the supportingstrip 7 to su port more than one transverse row of tu e elements whileat the same time retaining In Figure 10 I have illustrated an apparatuswherein each sup orting strip 7 carries two rows of tube e ements. Inthis construction the strip 7 1s provlded with two rows of holes toreceive the prongs 6 provided on the respective elements, whereby all ofthe elements in each of the two rows are properly supptorted and locatedby a single supporting s rip.

I have illustrated and described certain preferred embodiments of myinvention. The invention contemplates chiefly improvements over theapparatus disclosed in my above mentioned co-p'ending application andtherefore the present apparatus is in its general features similar tothe apparatus of that appllcation. Particularly is this true of thestructure of the heat conducting fins and the manner of .attachingthesefins to the tubes toeffect a connection of good heat transferringqualities. The features of the present apparatus which are differentfrom those of the above mentioned co-pending application and whichconstitute the present invention are described in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Heat exchange apparatus of the class described, comprising a passagefor the gas being treated, a plurality of fluid conveying elementsextending into heat exchanging relation with the gas traversing theapparatus to collectively constitute the heat transferring unit of theapparatus, each of said elements comprising a number of tubes greaterthan two interconnected at one end of the element and having a pluralityof heat transferring fins, each ,fin spanning all .of the tubes of anelement and means for dividing the tubes of the element into two passescontaining respectively an even and an odd number of tubes.

2.'Heat exchange apparatus of the class described, comprising a passagefor the gas being treated, a heating unit consisting of a plurality offluid conveying elements extending into heat exchanging relation withthe gas traversing the apparatus, said elements comprising a number oftubes greater than two interconnected at one end of the element, andfurther defined as separate elements by having a plurality of heattransferring fins, each spanningall of the tubes of the element andmeans for dividing the tubes of the elements into two passes. containinga different number of tubes.

3.'Heat exchange apparatus of the class described, comprising a passagefor the gas elements extending into heat exchanging relation with thegas traversing the apparatus, said elements comprising a number of tubesgreater than two interconnected at one end of the element, means fordividing the tubes of the element into two passes containing a differentnumber of tubes, and a plurality of heat conducting fins threaded overthetubesof the respective elements and lying in closely adjacentrelation along substantially the entire length of the element to therebyprovide a large heat'transferring surface contacting with the gastraversing the apparatus, each of said heat conducting fins surroundingall of the tubes of an element and contacting with each tube over asubstantial area.

4. Heat exchange apparatus of-the class ends ofsaid tubes, partitionsadjacent said tube sheet and separate therefrom forming open chambers incommunication with said tube ends, said chambers serving to connect theelements of each of said transverse rowsin parallel and additionally toconnect certaln difl'erent transverse rows of elements in parallel, andremovable means for covermg said open chambers.

i the element, a tube sheet for supporting the other ends of said tubes,a water head abutting against said tube sheet comprising a continuouspartition separate from said tube sheet traversing the length of thewater head several times to thereby constitiite chambers for connectingthe tubes of each of said transverse rows of elements in parallel andconnecting certain different transverse rows of elements in parallel,the chambers formed bysaid partitions being open at both the front andrear of the water head, and a removable cover plate for closing thefront" end of said water head.

6. Heat exchange apparatus of the class described, comprising a passagefor the gas being treated, aplurality of fluid conveying elementsextending into heat exchanging re-- lation with the gas traversing theapparatus, means for delivering a working fluid to said fluid conveyingelements and collecting it therefrom each of said elements comprising aplurality oftubes interconnected at one end of the element and membersassoci-' ated with the respective elements intermediate the ends thereofadapted to rest against adjacent elements to thereby support and locateeach of said respective elements.

7. Heat exchange apparatus of'the class described, comprising a passagefor the gas being treated, a plurality of fluid conveying elementsextending into heat exchanging relation with the gas traversing theapparatus, meansfor delivering a working fluid to said fluid conveyingelements and collecting it therefrom, each of said, elements comprisoneen of the element, and members associated with the res ective tubeelements intermediate the en s thereof of dimensions identical with thedimensions of the space to be occupied in the apparatus by each element,whereby said members on each tube element lie adjacent correspondingmembers provided on. adjacent elements and thereby serve to support andalign the respective elements. v

8. Heat exchange apparatus of the class lurality of tubes interconnectedat being treated, a plurality of separate fluid conveying elementsextending into heat exchanging relation with the gas traversing theapparatus, means for delivering 5 workingfiuid to said fluid conveyingelements and collecting it therefrom, each of said elements comprising aplurality of tubes interconnected at one end of the element, and memberscomprising, two sections clamped about the respective tube elements anddimensioned accuratel to correspond with the dimensions of t 0 space tobe occupied in the apparatus by each element, whereby saidmembers lieadjacent corresponding members of adjacent elementsa nd thereby properlysupport and align therespective elements.

9. Heat exchange apparatus of the class described, comprising a passagefor the gas being treated, a heating unit consisting of a plurality ofseparate fluid conveying elements extending into heat exchangingrelation with the gas traversing the apparatus,

means for delivering a working fluid to said.

fluid conveying elements and collecting it therefrom, each of saidelements comprising a plurality of tubes interconnected at one end ofthe element, a plurality of heat conducting fins threaded over the tubesof the respective elements and lying in closely adjacent' relation alongsubstantially the entire'length of the elements and members associatedwith the respective tube elements at at least one point intermediate theends thereof of dimensions identical with the dimensions of the space tobe occupied in the apparatus by each element, whereby said members ofeach tube element lie adjacent corresponding members of adja'centelements and thereby support and properly align the respective elements.

10. Heat exchange apparatus of the class described, comprising a passagefor the gas being treated, a plurality of fluid conveying elementsextending into heat exchangmg relation with the gas traversing theapparatus, means for delivering a working fluid to said fluid conveyingelements and collecting it therefrom, each of said elements comprising aplurality of tubes mterconnected at one end of the element, means forsupporting said tube elements at each end and members associated withthe respective elements adapted to rest against ad acent elements tothereby support said elements along intermediate portions of theirlength and locate said elements properly in the apparatus.

11. Heat exchange apparatus of theclass elements extending into heatexchanging relation with the gas traversing the apparatus means fordelivering a working-fluid described, comprising a passage for the gasto said fluid conveying elements and collecting it therefrom, saidelements comprising a plurality of tubes'interc'onnected at one end ofthe element, a tube sheet for supporting'one end of the tube element, aprong provided at the interconnected end of each of said elements, andmembers associated with the respective elements adapted to rest againstadjacent elements to thereby support said elements at intermediateportions of their length and locate said elements properly in theapparatus.

12. Heat exchange apparatus of the class described, comprising a passagefor the gas being treated, a plurality of fluid conveying elementsextending into heat exchanging relation with the gas traversing the apparatus, means for delivering a Working fluid to said fluid conveyingelements, said elements comprising a plurality of tubes interconnectedat one end of the tube element, a tube sheet for supporting the tubeelements, at one end, a prong provided at the interconnected end of eachelement, removable strips" having holes for receiving said prong andthereby supporting the interconnected ends of said elements, and

members associated with the respective elements adapted to rest againstadjacent elements to thereby support said elements at intermediateportions of their length and locate said elements properly in the apparatus.

13. Heat exchange apparatus of the class described, comprising a passagefor the gas being treated, a plurality of separate fluid conveyingelements extending into heat exchanging relation with the gas traversingthe apparatus, means for delivering a working fluid to said fluidconveyin elements and collecting it therefrom, sai elements comprising anumber of tubes greater than two interconnected at one end of theelement and positioned in staggered relation to the flow of gas thru theapparatus, a plurality of heat conducting members associated with saidtubes for increasingv the heat transferring surface of the apparatus,each of said members being in heat conducting relation with all of thetubes of one element, and members associated with the respectiveelements intermediate the ends thereof to rest against adjacent similarmembers and thereby locate and support said elements.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH PRICE.

